Indigenous-led and Indigenous-informed, Honouring Nations Canada is a new initiative of Fulbright Canada that has been established to recognize, celebrate, and share stories of Indigenous achievement and promote and encourage opportunities for Indigenous persons. The program will create national awards that recognize exceptional achievement, and underwrite case studies of Indigenous issues and Indigenous economic development.
Honouring Nations Canada is directed by Robin McLay who has had a long history of supporting Indigenous access to higher education through his association with Fulbright Canada, Harvard University’s Native American Program and the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development. In addition to his role as Director of Honouring Nations Canada, he serves as Special Advisor to the President and CEO of Fulbright Canada and Regional Director of Fulbright Canada West.
Robin McLay has had a long history of supporting Indigenous access to higher education through his association with Fulbright and Harvard University’s Native American Program. Before taking on the role with Fulbright Canada, Robin was the Senior Advisor to the President of Vancouver Island University. Before returning home to British Columbia, Robin served as the Head of Research and Strategy at The MasterCard Foundation – a foundation that continues to support Indigenous access to higher education in partnership with many Canadian universities. Prior to that role, Robin was the Executive Director of McGill University’s Institute for the Study of International Development. He also worked for more than a decade at Canada's International Development Agency (CIDA) as its Director of Research and Director of Democratic Institutions and Conflict. As part of his responsibilities at CIDA he represented the Agency’s participation at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples and managed its Indigenous Peoples Partnership Program. Robin also worked at Harvard University as the Executive Director of the Harvard University Native American and still works closely with the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development as a Research Associate.
Robin pursued his graduate studies at Harvard’s Kennedy School as a Fulbright Scholar. He also holds a Master’s of Science degree from the London School of Economics and a BA from McGill University. He remains actively involved in his family’s Indigenous art business and is proud member of the Métis community in British Columbia with strong Métis roots in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
The work of Honouring Nations Canada will be guided by a Circle of Indigenous Advisors representing culturally based initiatives from across all parts of the country.
Chief Adamek belongs to the Dakl’aweidi (Killerwhale) Clan and comes from a diverse background with Tlingit, Southern Tutchone, German and Irish origins.Throughout her career, she has served on a number of boards and committees, including the Yukon College Board of Governors, Kluane Dana Trust, Actua, the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, and the Aboriginal Sport Circle.
Dr. Becky Cook is from Misipawistik Cree Nation, and she was raised on the lands and waters surrounding Misipawistik and Lake Winnipeg. She completed her Ph.D. in Marine Geophysics in 2015 and is now committed to her traditional education. Becky was a coordinator with the Northern Manitoba Food Culture and Community Collaborative for two years. She has worked with Elders and knowledge holders in her home community of Misipawistik to develop a land-based education program for youth, Misipawistik Pimatisimēskanaw, which offers teachings throughout the year.
Dr. Mike DeGagné helps Indigenous students find, and achieve, their life purpose in his role as President and CEO of Indspire, Canada's largest Indigenous charity. This year Indspire provided $20M in 6300 grants to Indigenous college and university students. Dr. DeGagné became the founding Executive Director of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, where he worked to encourage and support community-developed, delivered, and culturally based initiatives addressing the intergenerational effects of abuses suffered in the Indian residential school system.
Dr. Dragon is a member of Smith’s Landing First Nation. Dr. Dragon began his career as a wildlife biologist for the Government of the Northwest Territories while completing his Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology and Management from the University of Alberta. In 2017, Dr. Dragon returned to the territorial government to serve as the Deputy Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, followed by an appointment as Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, where he was also Chairman of the Board for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation. Dr. Dragon holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University and is a graduate of the Government of Canada’s Accelerated Executive Development Program. Dr. Dragon was born in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, and received a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for his community service in 2012.
A seasoned manager with 25 years of experience running successful start-ups in the Arctic, Kirt Ejesiak is Chairman & CEO of Arctic UAV Inc (Professional Drone Imagery). He is a past chairperson of Ilitturvik University, chair of the board of the Iqaluit Museum, and has served as Iqaluit's deputy mayor and vice-chair of Nunavut Trust. As a Fulbright Scholar, Kirt attended the Harvard Kennedy School, completing his MA in Public Administration in 2005. From 2010-2014, Kirt served as vice-president and executive member of the Inuit Circumpolar Council.
Cliff Fregin has been extensively involved in Indigenous economic & business development throughout Canada. A strategic thinker and strong financial manager he is known nationally for his expertise in leadership development, stakeholder relations, partnership development and development of programs and services.
Cliff is one of the founders of YES – Young Entrepreneurs Symposium, which provides entrepreneurship training through an annual conference – for past 20+ years
Since January 2024, Cliff has held the Executive Director position with Four Pillars Society; a new not-for-profit society managing a $2.8 billion trust fund on behalf of 325 First Nation communities across the country. Four Pillars Society will support the revitalization of languages, culture, heritage and well-being in the First Nation communities over a twenty-year period.
Carol Anne Hilton, MBA, is the CEO and founder of the Indigenomics Institute and the Global Center of Indigenomics. Carol Anne is a dynamic national Indigenous business leader, author, speaker, and senior advisor with an international master's degree in business management from the University of Hertfordshire, England. Carol Anne is of Nuu-chah-nulth descent from the Hesquiaht Nation on Vancouver Island. Carol Anne is the author of 'Indigenomics–Taking A Seat at the Economic Table' and is an adjunct professor at Royal Roads University's School of Business.
Chris Lewis's ancestral name is Syeta'xtn. A member of the Squamish Nation Council, he is serving his third consecutive elected four-year term as one of two spokespersons for the Nation. Syeta'xtn has also served as chair to the Simon Fraser University Board of Governors and a board member for the N'chakay Development Corporation, MST Employment and Training Society and the Coho Society of the North Shore. Syeta'xtn's grandparents raised him to appreciate the traditional ways of the land and to further his academic education. Along with his traditional teachings, he earned a BA in geography and planning with a minor in First Nations studies from Simon Fraser University.
Lea Nicholas-MacKenzie is the CEO and Principal at the JWR Business Group and LNM Indigenous Consulting. She is a member of the Wəlastəkwey Nation (Maliseet First Nation) at Negwotkok (Tobique) in New Brunswick. She has held numerous senior roles within Indigenous organizations and the federal government, including a recent stint as Special Advisor for Indigenous Issues at the permanent mission of Canada to the United Nations. Lea has also served as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, as well as Chief of Protocol for the Four Host First Nations.
Sarah Midanik is an Indigenous professional who is passionate about increasing capacity and social impact within the Indigenous community. Born and raised in Alberta, she is a proud member of the Métis Nation of Alberta. Sarah is currently the President & CEO of the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, a national charity that seeks to improve the relationship between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Canadians. Sarah is the former Executive Director of the Native Women's Resource Centre of Toronto (NWRCT), a charity dedicated to providing resources and support to urban Indigenous women and their families.
Brian Phillips is an expert in sustainable development with 40 years of experience in a variety of community, regional, national, and international roles. Previously, as a representative of the Canadian International Development Agency at the United Nations, he advanced the global understanding of Indigenous peoples’ issues in sustainable development dialogues. He was also a lead negotiator for Canada, Australia and New Zealand at the UN Istanbul Program of Action for Least Developed Countries (2011-2020). Brian has worked throughout his career to identify and eliminate gaps in Indigenous access to business capital, telecommunications, extractive industries, trade and health services.
Matt Vickers is a director and Chief Executive Officer of NorthernNations Cooperative. Matt is also the Managing Director of Indigenous Engagement with Hillcore Group, responsible for developing strategy and advancing new business opportunities with First Nation communities to close on these opportunities. Matt has over 36 years of experience in a diverse range in the management consulting field. Throughout his career, Matt has had the opportunity to work in a broad base of industries, including First Nations, arts and culture, financial institutions, healthcare, government, and information technology.
Robert (Bob) Watts is a much sought-after expert in Indigenous policy, negotiations, training, and conflict resolution. He is the former Interim Executive Director of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which examined and made recommendations regarding the Indian Residential School era and its legacy. In 2019 Bob served as Chief of Staff to National Chief Perry Bellegarde and played a key role in historic budget allocations and the passage of Bills C-91 and 92. Bob is a graduate of the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and Fellow at the Harvard Law School. Currently, Bob is the Vice President of Indigenous Relations at the NWMO and an Adjunct Professor and Distinguished Fellow at Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario. He developed one of the first graduate-level courses on Reconciliation in the country. Bob recently received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from McMaster University. He is from the Mohawk and Ojibway Nations and resides at Six Nations Reserve, Ontario. Bob carries and honours his Ojibwe Spirit Name, Kinoozishingwak (Tall Pine), and is a member of the Bear Clan.
An initiative of Fulbright Canada and its founding partners, the Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness (SCSC) and the Harvard Kennedy School, Honouring Nations Canada is supported by generous commitments from the University of Saskatchewan, the Canadian Mountain Network, the Government of Canada and the U.S. Embassy in Canada.